Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-01-12

wandering powers took conference and
example, and he remembered the man
nerism in which old Brown had met his
fate. and Booth tried to be his pupil.
Captain" said Booth, assuming a hol
low, theatrical voice, give me a living
chance; withdraw your men hundred
PAGES from the barn and I'll come out
and fight your
This had been John Browns request
when entrapped in his engine house, and
Booth aspircd to die like Brown.
He repeated the request, and thought
il quite unmerciful that he was not ac-
corded a little stage space to die effective
ly in.
'We'll waste no more time. the civil
officer without spoke, in a tone of disgust.
The kdtydid or cricket never ceased to
call its resounding beads, and pray, pray,
pray.
Booth searched the heavens and the
world for some interccssor, and fetched
from weakness his mothers name. BY
that saint he asked for fifty yards and for
little more time.
Everything was refused.
Now, then, my brave boys" he de-
claimed, in the tones of the stage again,
prepare stretcher for mer'
''StretChers'' were the canvas biers 10
carry out of battle wounded men. Booth
assuming to the end-wOuld appear TO
be veteran entitled TO the honOrs of war.
He raised his carbine, feebly resolving
to kill some one or 10 fire it Off at least,
and as he stepped, on foot and crutch,
toward the center of the barn, TO be
farthcst from mems aiming, a friction
match was scratch ID behind him, as if his
broken bones had rasped each other, and
sent cold chill up his spine.
He turned and saw the barn on fire.
4 lighted whisp of straw. twisted by
some one without, had fallen into the
loose hay, and some brush piled against
the outside of the barn was also atire.
The warm flame for a single instant car
rfed the odor and crackle of his fathers
log cabin TO his heart, and he shouted as
his CrutCh fell from under his arm and
left him helpless:
Captain, do it quick Now shoot me
through the hearth
The cricket ceased to sing, though
everything beside came forth in the
bright light, till what had been the throne
of a gloom stood revealed in the blessed
implements and yield of husbandry. and
there were wasrs flying around their nests
in the roof, scenting flame. and In the lit
ter of the floor rau rats in single file, all
slyly, as from u sinking ship. and one
squealed r. IL crossed his shadow like an
old witch in an incarnation scene.
The plow and the harrow teeth took a
ruddy CLEAN; some swallows in the tim
bers flew round and round, blinded by
the fire, and the pegs for tobacco and the
burning tobacco leaves grew to he ferns
and scallOps of gold a they hung, like
yilded scenes in spectacles, around the
desperate man.
He had seen fires upon the stage and
helped 10 stamp them out, and he limped
toward the greater flame near a corner;
but suddenly great tongue of fire licked
him and singed him as If Cerberus Mt
hell's door had fondled on him with fur
mace tOnguel
Fear seized him and he ran toward the
door on mistitting bones-the door held
open as by some invisible angel-and as
he rau the ponderous beams and trees in
the structure seemed TO fall upon his
skull and smash it like an egg
Booth next felt water in his face, and
two men We're holding him up and search
ing his body and putting their fingers in
his brain.
Its here" said one. "righ; where be
shot the president, behind the ear and on
the same side, and here it comes through
In gagGing torments he discened be-
fore him two men in Confederate dress,
all shown by the light of the burning
barn. which was reflected in the home
stead porch he lay upon.
''Did-he-betray-m sighed Booth,
pointing TO one Of these, the officer who
had brought him TO the house.
He did not hear the answer, hut he
made it himself:
Tell-mother-It thought did-best
--rights-a country-till-I died. Kill
ME! Kill me-
Herold, tied to the tree in the little fat
lawn, saw them turn Booth TO make him
comfortable and heard him gasp and
groan, and Herold shed the only tears.
Booth could not swallow and his words
were measured like dew in the honey
suckle 5 cup that dropped above his eyes
and opened 10 the fire.
He saw them, in his paralysis, hold up
the arsenal Of things he had carried so
long-a great, fierce knife, with rust of
blood upon it; two pistols with revolving
cylinders thick as his riven ankle and
loaded in every chamber; a seven shotted
carbine; a candle spotted pocket compass;
his diary full of protestations and despair,
and holding Light Prisons name, his
pipe and scarf pin and the likenesses of
ladies; and a little Catholic medal. He
sighed:
Tongue
The detective opened his mouth and
said:
Booth, no blood is on your tongue
He started at his name, which seemed
century since it had been mentioned,
and gasped:
Hands,
The officer raised his hand and moist
ened It with piece of ice, and lifted it all
limp 10 Booths face. 1t fell uncontrol-
able like his broken foot.
He feebly moved his eyeballs through
an arc which swep. all nature and exhaled
the closing words
"Cselsss-'leSsi'
His face now expressed the unseen
agony for which there was no word. and
the cherished prMe Of strength pushed
Death away that Inercifully drew near
again and again, but ever was repelled by
the flushing rose aud pulse of life, till
that the countenance of the actor and
athlete seemed battle ground of wounds
and spasms, growing follower with each
contention and ready at the cocks crow,
like the wandering ghost, to fade into the
morn.
A carbineer had killed him in the barn;
and long sfterward WAS found in the ashes
there the field glass delivered to him at
Surratt's-its leather case found unin-
jured in IA distant farm house.
The cooks began TO crow. The morn
awaked with sullen eyes, A doctor had
come, hut it was too late.-George Alfred
Townsend in Katy Of Catoctin.'
Man and His Medicine.
There are l.0l0 medicines in the pharma-
cOpPia of the United States, and in most
communities there is one man who has
tried every one OF them before discovering
that there never was anything the matter
with him. The taste for strong drink is a
mild faobla incline tinr 1ot,,